PCB126 inhibits the activation of AMPK-CREB signal transduction required for energy sensing in liver

3,3’,4,4’,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126), a dioxin-like PCB, elicits toxicity through a wide array of non-carcinogenic effects, including metabolic syndrome, wasting, and non-alcoholic fatty-liver disease (NAFLD). Previously, we reported decreases in the transcription of several enzymes involved in gluconeogenesis, before the early onset of lipid accumulation. Hence, this study was aimed at understanding the impact of resultant decreases gluconeogenic enzymes on growth, weight and metabolism in the liver, upon extended exposure. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (75-100 g), fed a defined AIN-93G diet, were injected (ip) with single dose of soy oil (5 ml/kg body weight; n=14) or PCB126 (5 µmol/kg; n=15), 28 d, prior euthanasia. A subset of rats from each group were fasted for 12h (vehicle (n=6) and PCB126 (n=4)). Rats only showed significant weight loss between days 14 and 28 (P<0.05) and some mortality (P=0.0413). As in our previous studies, the expression levels of enzymes involved in glucon...